In-House Customization  ·  手作り Northern Serpent - Pilot Vanishing Point Capless [Customized] [Pilot 18K-750 Gold A1003 Medium Size Nib]

Pen Specifications

Base Pen Brand Pilot	Base Pen Model Vanishing Point Capless
Lacquer Colour Transparent	Metallic Leaf Gold
Maki-e Sticker Design Northern Serpent (Genbu)	Nib Pilot 18K-750 Gold A1003 Medium Nib
Filling System Cartridge or Converter (Pilot Proprietary)   Weight 31 g	Edition One of a Kind  ·  一点物     Length 140mm

History of Pilot

Founded in 1918 by Ryosuke Namiki and Masao Wada, Pilot has become one of the most influential and respected names in the fountain pen industry. Over more than a century, the company has built a reputation for combining Japanese craftsmanship, technical innovation, and exceptional writing performance, producing pens that are trusted by writers, professionals, and collectors around the world.

From its early beginnings as the Namiki Manufacturing Company in Tokyo, Pilot focused on creating high-quality fountain pens capable of competing with established Western brands. The company's dedication to precision engineering and continuous improvement quickly established it as one of Japan's leading pen manufacturers. Throughout the decades, Pilot introduced numerous advancements in nib design, filling systems, and manufacturing techniques, helping shape the modern fountain pen industry.

Pilot is also renowned for preserving traditional Japanese artistry through the creation of urushi lacquer and maki-e writing instruments under the Namiki name. These handcrafted masterpieces showcase techniques passed down through generations and remain among the most celebrated luxury pens in the world.

Over the years, Pilot has produced many iconic models that have become milestones in fountain pen history. The Pilot Super series helped establish the brand's post-war reputation, while the Elite series introduced innovative pocket pen designs that remain popular today. The Custom line, including the Custom 74, Custom 742, Custom 743, Custom 823, and Custom 845, has become synonymous with exceptional writing performance and nib variety. Pilot also revolutionized the industry with the Vanishing Point, the world's first commercially successful retractable fountain pen, a design that continues to be admired for its ingenuity and practicality.

Vanishing Point Capless

The Pilot Capless, known internationally as the Vanishing Point, is one of the most innovative fountain pens ever created. Introduced in 1963, it became the world's first fountain pen to feature a fully retractable nib, eliminating the need for a traditional cap while preserving the writing performance expected from a premium fountain pen.

The original model utilized a rotary mechanism to extend and retract the nib. Just one year later, Pilot introduced a more practical push-button design that greatly improved usability and convenience. The innovation received international recognition, earning prestigious awards including the Oscar Award at the International Gift Fair in Paris and the Ōkōchi Memorial Technology Prize.

Over subsequent decades, Pilot refined the design through continuous engineering improvements. One of the most important developments was the incorporation of an internal shutter mechanism that seals the nib when retracted, helping prevent ink evaporation and maintaining reliable writing performance. This breakthrough solved a challenge that many manufacturers had previously considered impossible.

Today, the Capless remains one of Pilot's most celebrated achievements. Its unique combination of practicality, engineering excellence, and everyday convenience has earned it a devoted following among fountain pen enthusiasts worldwide, securing its place as a true icon of modern pen design.

Pilot 18K Gold Nib

The Pilot Capless is fitted with a precision-engineered 18-karat gold nib unit that represents the culmination of decades of Pilot's nib-making expertise. Compact in size yet exceptionally refined, the nib is specifically designed to function within the pen's retractable mechanism while maintaining the smoothness and reliability expected from a premium gold nib.

Hand-finished in Japan, the nib delivers consistent ink flow, excellent line control, and a writing experience that balances precision with comfort. The carefully tuned feed system ensures dependable performance even during extended writing sessions, while the gold construction contributes a subtle responsiveness that enhances writing feel without sacrificing control.

What makes the Capless nib particularly remarkable is its ability to combine convenience with performance. Despite being housed within a complex retractable mechanism, it offers the same high standard of craftsmanship found throughout Pilot's premium fountain pen range. This achievement has helped establish the Vanishing Point as one of the most respected and enduring writing instruments in modern fountain pen history.

Nib Size   [M]     Material   [18K Gold]

Condition

Handcrafted  ·  One of a Kind Base pen condition: [A - S Tier] This pen has been customized with Lacquer paint by our local housewives. We are not Urushi artisans and this is not an Urushi Lacquer fountain pen. It is a Lacquer paint that we use to decorate this pen adding a new aesthetic and new look. The artwork is done by our local artist. This pen is a creative experiment and an artistic customization, not a traditional Urushi or artisan Maki-e piece. It is offered as a unique, one-of-a-kind art object meant to be enjoyed for its individuality, community story, and playful exploration of materials. Lacquer & decoration: [Brand New Hand-Painted] As each pen is individually handcrafted, minor variations in coating texture, leaf placement, and surface character are natural and form part of the piece's unique identity. They are not defects.

Design Inspiration  ·  Northern Serpent (Genbu)

Northern Serpent is a mythical masterpiece executed on a Pilot Capless (Vanishing Point) fountain pen canvas. It pays tribute to one of Japanese mythology’s most revered Celestial Guardians—the legendary Black Tortoise entwined with a sacred serpent (Genbu), protector of the northern cardinal direction, winter, and the element of water.   The main section of the pen serves as an intricate illustrative showcase, depicting the ferocious golden head of the sacred tortoise alongside a striking, coiled white serpent with a crimson tongue. Set against a mirror-polished black background, the design flows down into a dramatic Chirashi (distressed gold leaf) dusting across the lower section. This abstract gold field evokes cosmic dust and ancient scroll texture, framing the central motif while complementing the pen's polished gold hardware and click mechanism.